Born in 1978: the Earth Horse

Fire in the Sky: radiant, generous, energising. The year stem is Yang Earth, and the Horse is energetic and freedom-loving, warm and a little restless.

The Fire element feeds the Earth stem: what you give out tends to come back and build you up.

• Your element's colours: red, pink, orange, purple
• Supporting colours (Wood feeds Fire): green
• Go easy on (Water restrains Fire): black, blue

Colours by sound element are a popular Vietnamese and Chinese custom. Treat them as a gentle guide; a full Bazi chart may call for a different element than the year alone.

• TigerHarmony trio: same wavelength
• DogHarmony trio: same wavelength
• GoatSecret friend: quietly supportive
• RatOpposite: big differences, needs give and take
• OxHarm pair: prone to misunderstandings

Clashing animals are not a reason to avoid someone; they show where two people need more understanding. For a real answer, compare both full charts.

Kua numbers use the solar year, which turns around 4 February. If you were born before that, use the year before. Work out your Kua from your exact birthday

The Horse is the Goat's secret friend, so 2027, the year of the Fire Goat favours relationships, love and joint ventures.

What Chinese zodiac is 1978?

1978 is the year of the Earth Horse (戊午). Its sound element is Fire in the Sky, which belongs to Fire.

What are the lucky colours for people born in 1978?

For the Fire element: red, pink, orange, purple, plus the supporting Wood colours green. Go easy on black, blue, the colours of Water, which restrains Fire.

Who is the Horse most compatible with?

The Horse forms a harmony trio with the Tiger and Dog and a secret-friend pair with the Goat. Its opposite is the Rat.

I was born in January or early February 1978. Which animal am I?

The 1978 lunar year began on 7 February 1978. If you were born before that, you belong to 1977, the Snake. Bazi (Four Pillars) switches years at Li Chun, around 4 February.